Robin Hessman is a documentary filmmaker and independent producer whose most recent film, My Perestroika premiered at the Sundance Film Festival, and received a Peabody Award in 2012. She began her career more than 20 years ago while living in Moscow. She graduated from Brown University with a dual degree in Russian and film and received her graduate degree in film directing from the All-Russian State Institute of Cinematography (VGIK) in Moscow (with a “Red Diploma” of honors). Robin received an Academy Award in 1994 – with co-director James Longley – for their student film, Portrait of Boy with Dog. During her many years living in Russia, Robin worked for the Children’s Television Workshop as the on-site producer of “Ulitsa Sezam,” the original Russian-language “Sesame Street.” In the U.S., Robin co-produced the documentary Tupperware! which received a 2005 Peabody Award. Robin also co-produced the PBS biography of Julia Child, Julia! America’s Favorite Chef. In 2004, she founded Red Square Productions and became Filmmaker in Residence at Boston’s PBS affiliate, WGBH, where she developed My Perestroika.
Robin Hessman
Studios
Nef
Robin Hessman worked in the Nef studio.
Nef Studio, the first entirely new studio built after 1937, was donated by esteemed photographer, explorer, author, and MacDowell Fellow Evelyn Steffanson Nef in 1992. Endowed funds for the studio’s maintenance in perpetuity and an annual Fellowship for photographers were given in addition to funds for construction. Mrs. Nef said she had known about MacDowell all her…